By: By Cindy Wooden, Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY (CNS) — When Bishop Daniel R. Jenky, CSC, presented Pope Benedict XVI with two thick volumes about the life of Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen, the pope surprised him by saying he had worked with the late archbishop. Pope Benedict “told me something I hadn’t known: he […]
Continue readingSALVADOR, Brazil (CNS) — Despite intermittent rain, 70,000 people gathered in a park for the the beatification of the nun sometimes called Brazil’s Mother Teresa. Born as Maria Rita de Souza Brito Lopes Pontes in 1914, she was known to Brazilian Catholics as simply Sister Dulce, the mother of the poor. Cardinal Geraldo Majella Agnelo […]
Continue readingBy: By David Gibson, Catholic News Service JOPLIN, Mo. (CNS) — A Catholic hospital in Joplin took a direct hit from a severe tornado that struck the city May 22. Within a day of the twister, 89 people were confirmed dead, with the number almost certain to rise as rescue teams searched amid the rubble […]
Continue readingNORMAL — First things first. “Votar” is Spanish for “Vote,” and to help a group of World Youth Day pilgrims-to-be from the Pope John Paul II Catholic Newman Center here win a global song contest, click “Votar” in the video link above. (The Spanish that comes up after voting invites you to rate the song […]
Continue readingROCK ISLAND — For today’s youth, World War II and the Nazi Holocaust may seem like “ancient history,” as far removed from modern day as the Civil War. The student body of Alleman High School here, however, came face-to-face with history May 2 when Holocaust survivor Walter Reed, now 87, captivated and challenged them during […]
Continue readingROCK ISLAND — With expressions of gratitude to God and to all who are supporting the project, Jordan Catholic School here broke ground last Friday for a $2.6 million school addition and renovation. “Today, we are opening a new chapter in the quality of education for the young people of this area,” said Mike Daly, […]
Continue readingThe seven Catholic high schools of the Diocese of Peoria have scheduled graduation ceremonies and Masses for their 706 seniors in the coming weeks. In Peru, a graduation Mass for the 61 seniors of St. Bede Academy will be celebrated at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 21, at St. Bede Abbey Church. A reception will […]
Continue readingPentecost Sunday, like Easter, will be later than usual this year, but wise members of the Class of 2011 should be especially mindful of the Holy Spirit as their days of celebration arrive on university and high school campuses. College graduates, after all, are entering a difficult job market. Life-changing decisions await. For the fortunate, […]
Continue readingGALESBURG — The Christ Child Society of Central Illinois has started to offer layettes to OSF St. Mary Medical Center and Cottage Hospital in Galesburg. The hospitals received their first layettes last Saturday, May 7. A group of Christ Child Society members, including Sharon Gerdes of Gridley, Joan Weber and Ingrid Ruscheinski of Peoria, and […]
Continue readingSPRINGFIELD — Catholic Charities directors from all five downstate Illinois dioceses gathered at the state capitol May 4 to call for quick legislative action to preserve vital adoption and foster care services for thousands of children and families around the state. The directors indicated their agencies may soon be forced out of the adoption and […]
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